Chapter 448: Bell Rings Across the Land

Yun Shu, holding Murong Jian, felt a flicker of doubt for the first time. She didn't question Xu Yang's strength, but the eerie appearance of these ghost soldiers was deeply unsettling. She worried about further unforeseen complications, fearing that if her Profound Gate matters were to implicate Xu Yang and his companions—or even endanger the entire Northern Dynasty's border defense, leading to the deaths of more of Murong Jian's comrades—the consequences would be more than she could bear.

However, the moment Yun Shu met Xu Yang's gaze, she realized that with him there, even if the sky fell, there might still be hope.

A wise person can clearly discern a man's strength or weakness from his eyes.

At that moment, Xu Yang's calm demeanor was the perfect embodiment of true strength.

A truly powerful individual may not necessarily display their might when all is well, but they will step forward and turn the tide when everything is on the brink of collapse.

Xu Yang slowly descended from mid-air, then calmly walked towards the approaching ghost army.

"From this moment on, if even one ghost soldier flies past my back, I, Xu Yang, will immediately withdraw from this war."

In a trance, an incredibly powerful soul-voice slowly emerged, enveloping everyone and reverberating across the entire Northern Frontier battlefield.

With this declaration, Xu Yang demonstrated what it meant to be truly powerful. A single soul-voice instantly reassured those who worried for him, while simultaneously striking fear into the hearts of those eager to challenge him.

The barbarian leader, Taida, who had initially believed the ghost soldiers' arrival would secure victory for the Blood Barbarian tribe, found himself questioning everything after hearing Xu Yang's declaration.

"Damn it, how can I be so unlucky as to encounter such a terrifying individual? His presence has introduced too many variables into this battle!"

Of course, Taida would never voice these thoughts aloud. He knew that the true power supporting his Blood Barbarian tribe was not his Queen, Aisi, but the genuine ruler hidden deep within the shadowy forest—the Night Monarch.

"Outsider, you must think carefully. The Northern Frontier waters run deep; be careful not to get dragged in."

Just then, as Xu Yang's powerful aura fully unfurled, an equally potent soul-voice emanated from the depths of the shadowy forest at the far end of the Northern Frontier. It was the soul-voice of the legendary Night Monarch!

"I knew someone like you was hiding here. As a fellow Tribulation Transcendence Realm expert, you needn't cower like a turtle in the deep forest. If you still wish for my respect, then appear before me at once."

Xu Yang's soul-voice resounded again. It was as if, in his eyes, everyone else on the battlefield had lost their significance; the only one worthy of dialogue with Xu Yang was the mysterious expert hidden deep within the forest.

"Hahaha, break my Undead Array first, then we'll talk!"

This was the last message from the Monarch. The "Undead Array" he referred to was precisely the formation composed of the thousands of ghost soldiers Aisi had brought before them.

Only then did Xu Yang shift his attention, scanning the formation arranged by these ghost soldiers. Sure enough, he discovered some clues!

"So that's it. If I'm not mistaken, this Undead Array formed by the ghost soldiers is a legacy from the Eternal Night Dynasty, which swept across the continent like a hurricane fifty thousand years ago! However, that dynasty was fleeting, never permanently establishing itself in the annals of history. Yet, at its peak, its two monarchs, the Eternal Night Twins, certainly had the potential to stand at the apex of the continent. It seems this Night Monarch must be one of those Eternal Night Twins."

As Xu Yang accessed this part of his memory, he gradually understood why the Northern Frontier had become a festering problem on the Northern Dynasty's border; it was definitely connected to the identity of these Eternal Night Twins.

Perhaps the Night Monarch held the key to truly uncovering the secret beneath Jīngyún Valley.

According to Xu Yang's preliminary assessment, the divine beast sealed beneath Jīngyún Valley likely had a close connection to the Night Monarch, one of the Eternal Night Twins.

Gathering these scattered thoughts, Xu Yang felt a strong desire to meet this individual.

However, to open the path to the shadowy forest, dealing with the Blood Barbarian tribe before him was the immediate priority.

With this realization, Xu Yang's desire to attack significantly intensified. Facing thousands of ghost soldiers, he finally summoned his Asura Sword. With a powerful swing, terrifying sword light erupted, causing masses of ghost soldiers to crumble under the sword's overwhelming power.

These ghost soldiers were, in fact, special experimental constructs of the Night Monarch's design. Unable to house truly independent souls, they had degenerated into war puppets.

However, using special cultivation techniques passed down from the Eternal Night Dynasty, the Night Monarch could embed specific thought programs into these war machines. This allowed them to fight according to precise patterns, significantly boosting their influence on the battlefield.

While these ghost soldiers often couldn't single-handedly decide the outcome of a battle, it didn't mean that such a group, devoid of independent intelligence, couldn't pose a threat to the Profound Gate team before them.

"Divide and surround!"

Queen Aisi suddenly gave the command. Just as Xu Yang had suspected, not all the ghost soldiers were targeting him. Following Aisi's order, countless ghost soldier units split into ten groups, launching a simultaneous encirclement of the Five Element Elders and others at the rear from all directions.

At this moment, these ten converging ghost soldier formations began to gradually approach the boundary line Xu Yang had set.

It was crucial to remember that a promise from a Tribulation Transcendence Realm expert was a matter of their dignity. Should these ghost soldiers truly break free from Xu Yang's suppressive control, Xu Yang would absolutely withdraw from the war.

In an instant, countless ghost soldier legions surged forward like an unstoppable tide, rushing madly towards the defensive line Xu Yang had established.

"Hahaha, your strength is indeed formidable, but you might be overestimating yourself a bit! No one can single-handedly stop the advance of these ghost puppets!"

The barbarian leader, Taida, laughed hysterically, seemingly already anticipating the sight of Xu Yang retreating from the battlefield in disgrace.

However, what no one expected was that Xu Yang's true capabilities ran far deeper than they appeared.

"Heh, if that's the case, then allow me to open your eyes. The true height of this world is not limited by anyone's narrow perspective."

*Boom!*

In the next instant, Xu Yang performed a simple action that astonished everyone present.